U.S. patent number 7,577,372 [Application Number 11/687,085] was granted by the patent office on 2009-08-18 for image forming apparatus and control method thereof.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha. Invention is credited to Reiji Murakami.
United States Patent |
7,577,372 |
Murakami |
August 18, 2009 |
Image forming apparatus and control method thereof
Abstract
An image forming apparatus of the invention conveys paper fed by
a paper feeding mechanism piece by piece to a paper discharging
unit through a paper conveying path. An image forming unit is
arranged in a midway portion of this paper conveying path and
executes an image forming process for printing an image based on
image data on paper being conveyed. A sensor that detects a type of
the paper conveyed is arranged on an upstream side with respect to
the image forming unit on the paper conveying path. Image forming
process conditions for the image forming unit are set in accordance
with a detection result of the sensor. When the paper fed to the
paper conveying path is paper not detected by the sensor, the image
forming process is started awaiting a detection result by the
sensor. On the other hand, when the paper is detected by the
sensor, the image forming process is started without awaiting paper
type detection. Moreover, paper being conveyed is conveyed to the
image forming unit, in which the image forming process is started,
in synchronization with a printing operation of the image forming
unit.
Inventors: |
Murakami; Reiji (Yokohama,
JP) |
Assignee: |
Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
(Tokyo, JP)
Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha (Tokyo, JP)
|
Family
ID: |
39762825 |
Appl.
No.: |
11/687,085 |
Filed: |
March 16, 2007 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20080226314 A1 |
Sep 18, 2008 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
399/45; 399/16;
399/23; 399/389; 399/66 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G03G
15/5029 (20130101); G03G 15/6564 (20130101); G03G
2215/00721 (20130101); G03G 2215/00738 (20130101); G03G
15/235 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G03G
15/00 (20060101); G03G 15/16 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;399/16,45,367,369,372,50,51,53,66,391,393,23,389 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Gray; David M
Assistant Examiner: Wong; Joseph S
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Turocy & Watson, LLP
Claims
What is claims is:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a paper feeding mechanism
that feeds paper piece by piece; a paper conveying path that
conveys paper fed by such paper feeding mechanism to a paper
discharging unit; an image forming unit situated on the paper
conveying path between the paper feeding mechanism and the paper
discharging unit on such paper conveying path to execute an image
forming process for forming an image based on image data and to
print the image on the paper being conveyed on the paper conveying
path; a sensor that is situated on an upstream side of the paper
conveying path with respect to the image forming unit to detect a
type of paper conveyed by such paper conveying path; a condition
setting unit configured to set conditions for an image forming
process of the image forming unit in accordance with a detection
result of such sensor; an image-forming-process control unit that
is situated to start the image forming process of the image forming
unit waiting until conditions for an image forming process of the
image forming unit are set in accordance with a detection result by
the sensor when a paper fed to the paper conveying path by the
paper feeding mechanism was not detected by the sensor, and that is
situated to start the image forming process without awaiting paper
type detection when a paper fed to the paper conveying path is fed
from the paper feeding mechanism and a type of paper from the paper
feeding mechanism was detected by the sensor; and a
paper-conveying-path control unit configured to cause the paper
conveying path to convey paper conveyed by the paper conveying path
to the image forming unit, in which the image forming process is
started, in synchronization with a printing operation of the image
forming unit.
2. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
sensor discriminates a paper type by detecting luminous
transmittance of paper.
3. An image forming apparatus comprising a paper feeding mechanism
that is provided for each of plural paper feeding sources, and
feeds paper piece by piece from the corresponding paper feeding
sources; a paper conveying path that is constituted by joining
paper feeding paths from the paper feeding sources and conveys
paper fed by this paper feeding mechanism to a paper discharging
unit; an image forming unit arranged on the paper conveying path
between the paper feeding mechanism and the paper discharging unit
to execute an image forming process for forming an image based on
image data and printing the image on the gaper being conveyed by
the paper conveying path; a sensor that is arranged further on a
downstream side than joining points of the of the paper conveying
path and on an upstream side of the paper conveying path with
respect to the image forming unit to detect a type of paper
conveyed by this paper conveying path; a condition setting unit
configured to set conditions for an image forming process of the
image forming unit in accordance with a detection result of this
sensor; an image-forming-process control unit that is situated to
start the image forming process of the image forming unit waiting
until conditions for an image forming process of the image forming
unit are set in accordance with a detection result by the sensor
when a paper fed to the paper conveying path by the paper feeding
mechanism was not detected by the sensor, and that is situated to
start the image forming process without awaiting paper type
detection when a paper fed to the paper conveying path is fed from
the paper feeding mechanism and a type of paper from the paper
feeding mechanism was detected by the sensor; and a
paper-conveying-path control unit configured to cause the paper
conveying path to convey paper to the image forming unit, in which
the image forming process is started, in synchronization with a
printing operation of the image forming unit.
4. An image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the
paper conveying path is constituted by joining paper feeding paths
from plural paper feeding sources, the sensor is arranged further
on a downstream side than these joining points, and the
image-forming-process control unit determines that the paper fed is
the same type of paper as the paper detected by the sensor when the
paper is fed from the same paper feeding source as the paper
detected by the sensor and starts the image forming process without
awaiting paper type detection.
5. A control method of an image forming apparatus comprising the
steps of: feeding paper piece by piece to a paper conveying path
that conveys fed paper to a paper discharging unit; detecting a
type of the paper fed to the paper conveying path with a sensor;
setting, in accordance with a detection result of the sensor, image
forming process conditions for an image forming unit that executes
an image forming process for forming an image based on image data
and printing the image on paper being conveyed by the paper
conveying path; starting the image forming process of the image
forming unit awaiting that conditions for an image forming process
of the image forming unit are set in accordance with a detection
result by the sensor when a type of the paper fed to the paper
conveying path by the paper feeding mechanism was not detected by
the sensor, and starting the image forming process without awaiting
the paper type detection when a type of paper fed to the paper
conveying path was detected by the sensor; and causing the paper
conveying path to convey the paper conveyed by the paper conveying
path to the image forming unit, in which the image forming process
is started, in synchronization with a printing operation of the
image forming unit.
6. A control method of an image forming apparatus comprising the
steps of feeding paper piece by piece from any one of plural paper
feeding mechanisms to a paper conveying path that conveys fed paper
to a paper discharging unit; detecting a type of the paper fed to
the paper conveying path with a sensor; setting, in accordance with
a detection result of the sensor, image forming process conditions
for an image forming unit that executes an image forming process
for forming an image based on image data and printing the image on
paper being conveyed by the paper conveying path; starting the
image forming process of the image forming unit awaiting that
conditions for an image forming process of the image forming unit
are set in accordance with a detection result by the sensor when a
type of the paper fed to the paper conveying path by the paper
feeding mechanism was not detected by the sensor, and starting the
image forming process without awaiting the paper type detection
when a paper fed to the paper conveying path is fed from the paper
feeding mechanism, and a type of paper from the paper feeding
mechanism was detected by the sensor; and causing the paper
conveying path to convey the paper conveyed by the paper conveying
path to the image forming unit, in which the image forming process
is started, in synchronization with a printing operation of the
image forming unit.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to image forming apparatuses that can
print characters and figures on various kinds of paper such as a
printer and a copying machine and a control method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, in this type of image forming apparatuses, printing on
various kinds of paper having different thicknesses and the like is
possible. However, a difference in a paper type affects
transferability, fixability, and the like in printing. Therefore,
for example, in an image forming apparatus of an
electrophotographic system, improvement in an image quality is
realized by, for example, changing a quantity of toner for
transferring an image to paper, transfer conditions, and fixing
conditions according to paper thickness.
Conventionally, an operator visually checks and manually designates
paper type information such as thickness. However, for example,
because this work is extremely complicated, it is proposed to
automatically detect a paper type using a transmission optical
sensor or the like.
For example, in JP-A-2004-277057, paper feeding mechanism that
feeds paper piece by piece is provided for each paper feeding
cassette that stacks and holds paper and, on an outgoing side of
the paper feeding mechanism, a paper type sensor that detects type
(thickness, etc.) of paper fed by this paper feeding mechanism is
provided. In preparation for printing to be performed later, a
leading end of one piece of paper at the top is fed from the paper
feeding cassette by a predetermined quantity by the paper feeding
mechanism at timing prior to an original paper feeding command and
a type of the paper is detected by the paper type sensor.
In this way, it is possible to acquire paper type information at
the timing prior to the original paper feeding command. This makes
it possible to perform, for an image forming process of an image
forming unit, proper setting using the detected paper type
information before the paper feeding command for printing is
received.
In this type of image forming apparatuses, in general, plural paper
feeding cassettes as paper supplying sources are provided. Pieces
of paper of types different from one another are often provided in
the plural paper feeding cassettes, respectively, to make it
possible to select a desired paper type from these paper feeding
cassettes and perform printing. In this case, pieces of paper fed
from the respective paper feeding cassettes by paper feeding
mechanisms are separately joined to a common paper conveying path
leading to the image forming unit, and sent to the image forming
unit and printed, respectively.
A case in which the conventional technique described above is
applied to such image forming apparatuses will be examined. For
example, it is assumed that paper is stored in a paper feeding
cassette and the paper feeding cassette is set in an image forming
apparatus main body. In this case, to detect a paper type in
advance in preparation for printing after this, as described above,
a leading end of one piece of paper is fed from the paper feeding
cassette by a predetermined quantity by the paper feeding mechanism
and a type of the paper is detected by the paper type sensor.
Thereafter, if an original paper feeding command for the paper, the
type of which is detected, is continuously issued, no problem
occurs because it is possible to send the paper fed halfway to the
image forming unit as it is. However, if an original paper feeding
command for paper stored in another paper feeding cassette is
issued, it is likely that the paper, the type of which is detected,
hinders feeding and conveyance of the paper according to the
original paper feeding command.
In short, in the image forming apparatus having the plural paper
feeding cassettes, it is not definitely decided to which one of the
paper feeding cassettes (paper types) an original paper feeding
command is given. The paper feeding cassette is changed according
to a print request. Therefore, as described above, it often occurs
that, after a paper type of a paper feeding cassette set anew is
detected, an original paper feeding command is given to another
paper feeding cassette.
In this case, since the paper, the type of which is detected, stays
in a state in which the leading end thereof is fed by the
predetermined quantity, it is likely that the paper hinders
movement of paper fed from another paper feeding cassette to a
common conveying path. To prevent the paper from hindering the
movement of another piece of paper, it is necessary to provide the
paper type sensor in an extremely narrow portion near the paper
feeding mechanism and arrange and set the paper type sensor such
that the leading end of the paper in the type detected state does
not project over the conveying path of another piece of paper.
Therefore, the paper type sensor is subjected to restriction in
terms of arrangement. Even if the paper type sensor is arranged in
this way, when a quantity of paper feeding by the paper feeding
mechanism is unstable, the leading end may project to the common
conveying path and interfere with the movement of another piece of
paper. When double feeding occurs, remaining paper may project to
the common conveying path.
To surely prevent such interference, paper once fed to the sensor
portion only has to be returned into the paper feeding cassette
after the detection by the sensor.
However, to return the paper partially fed from the paper feeding
cassette into the paper feeding cassette after the paper type
detection, a complicated mechanism is required, which causes a
failure. It is not preferable to return the paper once fed because
a burden on the paper is heavy and a jam is caused.
Providing the paper type sensor near the paper feeding mechanism
leads to misdetection of a paper type as well. The paper feeding
mechanism takes out uppermost paper of paper stacked and held in
the paper feeding cassette with a pickup roller and separates and
feeds the paper piece by piece with a paper feeding roller arranged
on a front side of the paper and a separation roller arranged on a
rear side of the paper. However, when a separating action is not
sufficient, two pieces of paper may be delivered together right
behind the paper feeding roller and the separation roller. Even if
the two pieces of paper are delivered together, in most cases, only
one piece of paper is delivered to the conveying path by an action
of the separation roller. However, when the paper type sensor is
provided near the separation and paper feeding mechanisms, the
paper type sensor detects these two pieces of paper. Thus, for
example, in the case of a sensor that detects paper thickness,
misdetection is caused.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide an image forming
apparatus that can perform printing under optimum conditions
according to a paper type and without deteriorating performance
because the image forming apparatus incorporates paper type
detection in an image processing algorithm and controls the paper
type detection to detect a paper type in the middle of paper
feeding and conveyance, set an image process according to a result
of the detection, and start this image forming process.
According to an aspect of the invention, an image forming apparatus
includes: a paper feeding mechanism that feeds paper piece by
piece; a paper conveying path that conveys paper fed by this paper
feeding mechanism to a paper discharging unit; an image forming
unit that is arranged between the paper feeding mechanism and the
paper discharging unit on this paper conveying path and executes an
image forming process for forming an image based on image data and
printing the image on the paper being conveyed by the paper
conveying path; a sensor that is arranged on an upstream side with
respect to the image forming unit on the paper conveying path and
detects a type of paper conveyed by this paper conveying path; a
condition setting unit that sets conditions for an image forming
process of the image forming unit in accordance with a detection
result of this sensor; an image-forming-process control unit that
starts the image forming process of the image forming unit awaiting
the detection result of the sensor when the paper fed to the paper
conveying path by the paper feeding mechanism is paper not detected
by the sensor and starts the image forming process without awaiting
paper type detection when the paper fed to the paper conveying path
is detected by the sensor; and a paper-conveying-path control unit
that causes the paper conveying path to convey paper conveyed by
the paper conveying path to the image forming unit, in which the
image forming process is started, in synchronization with a
printing operation of the image forming unit.
According to another aspect of the invention, a control method of
an image forming apparatus includes: a step of feeding paper piece
by piece to a paper conveying path that conveys fed paper to a
paper discharging unit; a step of detecting a type of the paper fed
to the paper conveying path with a sensor; a step of setting, in
accordance with a detection result of the sensor, image forming
process conditions for an image forming unit that executes an image
forming process for forming an image based on image data and
printing the image on paper being conveyed by the paper conveying
path; a step of starting the image forming process of the image
forming unit awaiting a detection result by the sensor when the
paper fed to the paper conveying path by the paper feeding
mechanism is paper, a paper type of which is not detected by the
sensor, and starting the image forming process without awaiting the
paper type detection when the paper fed to the paper conveying path
is paper, a type of which is detected by the sensor; and a step of
conveying the paper conveyed by the paper conveying path to the
image forming unit, in which the image forming process is started,
in synchronization with a printing operation of the image forming
unit.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall structure of an image
detecting apparatus according to a first embodiment of the
invention;
FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram for explaining a control unit
of the image detecting apparatus according to the first embodiment
of the invention;
FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view for explaining a sensor setting
state in the first embodiment of the invention; and
FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view for explaining a sensor setting
state in a second embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the invention will be hereinafter explained in
detail with the accompanying drawings as examples.
FIG. 1 shows a structure of an image forming apparatus according to
a first embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 shows control unit of
the image forming apparatus as functional blocks. In FIG. 1,
reference numeral 1 denotes an apparatus main body. A transparent
original stand (a glass plate) 2 for placing an original is
provided in an upper part of the apparatus main body 1. A cover 3
is provided on this original stand 2 to be freely opened and
closed. A carriage 4 is provided on a lower surface side of the
original stand 2. An exposure lamp 5 is provided in the carriage 4.
The carriage 4 is capable of reciprocatingly moving along the lower
surface of the original stand 2. This carriage 4 reciprocatingly
moves while lighting the exposure lamp 5 to expose an original on
the original stand 2. A reflected light image of the original
placed on the original stand 2 is obtained by this exposure. The
reflected light image is projected on a CCD (Charge Coupled Device)
10 by reflecting mirrors 6, 7, and 8 and a lens block for
magnification 9. The CCD 10 outputs an image signal corresponding
to the reflected light image of the original.
A scan unit (203 in FIG. 2) that optically scans an image of the
original placed on the original stand 2 is constituted by the
carriage 4, the exposure lamp 5, the reflecting mirrors 6, 7, and
8, the lens block for magnification 9, and the CCD 10.
Reference numeral 220 denotes an image forming unit, which is
constituted by a print engine (213 in FIG. 2) constituted by an
exposing unit 11 and the like, photoconductive drums 21, 22, 23,
and 24, a transfer belt 25, a drive roller 26, and a process unit
(214 in FIG. 2) constituted by a transfer-roller driving unit and
the like. This image forming unit 220 forms an image based on image
data (the image signal outputted from the CCD 10) and executes an
image forming process for printing the image on paper being
conveyed. The image signal outputted from the CCD 10 is supplied to
the exposing unit 11 first after being appropriately processed. The
exposing unit 11 emits a laser beam B1 corresponding to an image
signal of a yellow color, a laser beam B2 corresponding to an image
signal of a magenta color, a laser beam B3 corresponding to an
image signal of a cyan color, and a laser beam B4 corresponding to
an image signal of a black color to a photoconductive drum 21 for
the yellow color, a photoconductive drum 22 for the magenta color,
a photoconductive drum 23 for the cyan color, and a photoconductive
drum 24 for the black color, respectively.
The photoconductive drums 21, 22, 23, and 24 are arrayed
substantially in the horizontal direction at fixed intervals. The
transfer belt 25 of an endless shape is provided above these
photoconductive drums 21, 22, 23, and 24. The transfer belt 25 is
laid over the drive roller 26, guide rollers 27, 28, and 29, and a
driven roller 30. The transfer belt 25 is subjected to power from
the drive roller 26 and rotates to travel in a counterclockwise
direction. The guide roller 27 is provided to move up and down
freely. The guide roller 27 is subjected to rotation of a cam 31
and moved to the transfer belt 25 side to displace the transfer
belt 25 to the photoconductive drums 21, 22, 23, and 24 side.
Primary transfer rollers 41, 42, 43, and 44 are provided to be
movable up and down in positions opposed to the photoconductive
drums 21, 22, 23, and 24 across the transfer belt 25. The primary
transfer rollers 41, 42, 43, and 44 are moved (lowered) to the
transfer belt 25 side to bring the transfer belt 25 into contact
with the photoconductive drums 21, 22, 23, and 24 and transfer
visible images on the photoconductive drums 21, 22, 23, and 24 to
the transfer belt 25.
Although not shown in the figure, a cleaner, a charge removing
lamp, a charging unit, and a developing unit are displayed one
after another around the photoconductive drum 21 (and the other
photoconductive drums 22, 23, and 24 as well) The cleaner has a
cleaning blade, which comes into contact with the surface of the
photoconductive drum 21, and scrapes off a developing material
remaining on the surface of the photoconductive drum 21 with the
cleaning blade. The charge removing lamp removes electric charges
remaining on the surface of the photoconductive drum 21. The
charging unit applies a high voltage to the photoconductive drum 21
to charge the surface of the photoconductive drum 21 with
electrostatic charges. The laser beam B1 emitted from the exposing
unit 11 is irradiated on the surface of the photoconductive drum 21
subjected to the charging. An electrostatic latent image is formed
on the surface of the photoconductive drum 21 by this irradiation.
The developing unit supplies a developing material (a toner) of the
yellow color to the surface of the photoconductive drum 21 to
visualize the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the
photoconductive drum 21.
Plural paper feeding cassettes 50 as paper supplying sources are
provided below the exposing unit 11. A large number of pieces of
paper P of types different from one another are stored in these
paper feeding cassettes 50 in a stacked state. Paper feeding
mechanisms 221 that feed the paper in the paper feeding cassettes
50 piece by piece from the top are provided in exit portions (on
the right side in the figure) of these paper feeding cassettes 50,
respectively. The paper P is taken out piece by piece from any one
of the paper feeding cassettes 50 by this paper feeding mechanism
221. This paper feeding mechanism 221 for taking out paper is
constituted by a pickup roller 51, a paper feeding roller 52a, and
a separation roller 52b. The paper feeding mechanism 221 separates
the paper P taken out from the paper feeding cassette 50 and feeds
the paper to a paper conveying path 53 piece by piece.
The paper conveying path 53 extends to a paper discharge port 54
above through the driven roller 30 of the image forming unit 220.
The paper discharge port 54 faces a paper discharging unit 55
leading to an outer peripheral surface of the main body 1.
Conveying rollers 56 are provided near the paper feeding mechanisms
221, respectively, on a start end side of the paper conveying path
53. When paper is fed to this paper conveying path 53 by anyone of
the paper feeding mechanisms 221, the paper conveying path 53
conveys the paper fed to the paper discharging unit 55.
A secondary transfer roller 57 is provided, across the transfer
belt 25, in a position opposed to the driven roller 30 in a midway
portion of the paper conveying path 53. Registration rollers 58 are
provided in a position before the driven roller 30 and the
secondary transfer roller 57 in a conveying direction. The
registration rollers 58 deliver the paper P into a space between
the transfer belt 25 and the secondary transfer roller 57 at timing
synchronizing with a transfer operation by the transfer belt 25 and
the secondary transfer roller 57. The secondary transfer roller 57
transfers, while nipping the paper P delivered from the
registration rollers 58 between the secondary transfer roller 57
and the transfer belt 25 on the driven roller 30, a visible image
transferred on the transfer belt 25 to the paper P and prints the
visible image on the paper P. In other words, the registration
rollers 58 convey the paper P to the image forming unit 220 having
the transfer belt 25 and the secondary transfer roller 57 in
synchronization with a printing operation of the image forming unit
220.
A heat roller 59 for heat fixing and a press-contact roller 60 in
contact with this heat roller 59 are provided in a position of the
paper conveying path 53 further on a downstream side than the
secondary transfer roller 57. The image transferred to the paper P
is fixed by the heat roller 59 and the press-contact roller 60. A
paper discharging roller 61 is provided at an end of the paper
conveying path 53.
Reference numeral 222 denotes an automatic duplex unit (hereinafter
referred to as ADU). The ADU 222 has a paper conveying path 62 that
is divided from a downstream side with respect to the image forming
unit 220 on the paper conveying path 53 (the end of the conveying
path 53) and joins with an upstream side with respect to the image
forming unit 220 on the paper conveying path 53 (an upstream side
position of the registration rollers 58). This paper conveying path
62 reverses the front and the back of the paper P for duplex
printing. The paper conveying path 62 is provided with the
conveying rollers 63, 64, and 65 and, in operation, switches back
paper conveyed from the image forming unit 220 to the paper
discharging unit 55 and joins the paper to the upstream side of the
image forming unit 220. In this way, the paper P returned to the
upstream side of the image forming unit 220 by the paper conveying
path 62 joins with the paper conveying path 53. The paper P is
delivered to the image forming unit 220 by the registration rollers
58 in synchronization with a printing operation of the image
forming unit 220. Therefore, the visible image on the transfer belt
25 is transferred to the rear surface of the paper P and
printed.
The paper conveying path 53 that conveys the paper fed by the paper
feeding mechanism 221 to the paper discharging unit 55 is set as a
main paper conveying path and the paper conveying path 62 for
reversing the front and the back of the paper is set as a sub paper
conveying path. This sub paper conveying path 62 comes into the
operation state described above when the duplex printing is
designated by a not-shown control panel or the like provided in the
apparatus main body 1.
Reference numeral 223 denotes a paper type sensor, which is
arranged on the upstream side with respect to the image forming
unit 220 on the main paper conveying path 53 (a position further on
the upstream side than the registration rollers 58) and detects a
type of paper conveyed by the paper conveying path 53. FIG. 3 is
schematically shows the main paper conveying path 53 section in
FIG. 1 extracted and enlarged. In FIG. 3, a positional relation
among the paper type sensor 223, the registration rollers 58, and
the joining point on the main paper conveying path 53 is clearly
shown. As this paper type sensor 223, a publicly known sensor that
discriminates a paper type by detecting the thickness and luminous
transmittance of paper only has to be used.
In an example in FIG. 1, the two paper feeding cassettes 50 are
provided as paper feeding sources. However, it goes without saying
that the number of paper feeding cassettes 50 may be three or more.
Besides, although not shown in the figure, a manual paper feeding
mechanism (hereinafter referred to as SFB) and a large capacity
paper feeder (hereinafter referred to as LCF) capable of stacking
and feeding several thousand pieces of paper are used. Paper
feeding paths from the SFB and LCF also join with the main paper
conveying path 53. The paper type sensor 223 is arranged further on
the downstream side than a joining point of the paper feeding paths
from the paper feeding sources SFB and LCF. Therefore, it is
possible to detect, with one paper type sensor 223, all types of
paper fed from the respective paper feeding sources and conveyed on
the main paper conveying path 53.
A cleaner 36 is provided across the transfer belt 25 in a position
opposed to the driver roller 26 of the image forming unit 220. This
cleaner 36 has a cleaning blade 36a, which comes into contact with
the transfer belt 25, and scrapes off a developing material
remaining on the transfer belt 25 with the cleaning blade 36a.
Hooks 71, 72, 73, and 74 are provided near the primary transfer
rollers 41, 42, 43, and 44. These hooks 71, 72, 73, and 74 can
engage with shafts of the primary transfer rollers 41, 42, 43, and
44 and lift the shafts while rotating and move the primary transfer
rollers 41, 42, 43, and 44 in an upward direction in the figure. It
is possible to set a full color mode, a fully separated mode, and a
monochrome mode according to which ones (one) of the primary
transfer rollers 41, 42, 43, and 44 are lifted.
A control circuit for the apparatus main body 1 will be explained
using FIG. 2. Reference numeral 200 denotes a main controller. A
control panel controller 201, a scan controller 202, and a print
controller 210 are connected to the main controller 200. The main
controller 200 collectively controls the control panel controller
201, the scan controller 202, and the print controller 210.
The scan unit 203 is connected to the scan controller 202. As
described above, the scan unit 203 is constituted by the carriage
4, the exposure lamp 5, the reflecting mirrors 6, 7, and 8, the
lens block for magnification 9, the CCD 10, and the like and
optically scans an image of an original placed on the original
stand 2.
The print controller 210 is connected to the paper type sensor 223
and is connected to a ROM 211 for control program storage, a RAM
212 for data storage, the print engine 213, the process unit 214,
and a conveying unit 215, respectively. As described above, the
print engine 213 is constituted by the exposing unit 11 and the
like. As described above, the process unit 214 is constituted by
the photoconductive drums 21, 22, 23, and 24, the transfer belt 25,
the drive roller 26, the transfer-roller driving unit, and the
like. The conveying unit 215 is constituted by conveying mechanisms
for the paper P, driving circuits for the conveying mechanisms, and
the like in the paper conveying paths 53 and 62.
As shown in FIG. 2, the print controller 210 has a condition
setting unit 210a, a process control unit for image formation 210b,
and a paper-conveying-path control unit 210c as functions.
The condition setting unit 210a optimally sets conditions for the
image forming unit 220 (the process unit 214 in FIG. 2 is
equivalent to the image forming unit 220) in accordance with a
detection result of the paper type sensor 223.
The process control unit for image formation 210b controls start
timing of the image forming process in the image forming unit 220.
The process control unit for image formation 210b controls start
timing of the image forming process according to whether a type of
paper fed from the paper feeding cassette 50 to the paper conveying
path 53 by the paper feeding mechanism 221 is detected by the paper
type sensor 223. When a paper type is not detected yet, the process
control unit for image formation 210b starts the image forming
process awaiting a detection result by the paper type sensor 223.
On the other hand, when a paper type is already detected (for
example, when remaining pieces of paper are fed from the same
cassette), the process control unit for image formation 210b can
start the image forming process without awaiting paper type
detection.
The paper-conveying-path control unit 210c has a function of
controlling, when the paper P is fed to the paper conveying path 53
by the paper feeding mechanism 221, the paper conveying path 53 to
convey this paper to the paper discharging unit 55 and controlling
the registration rollers 58 to convey paper, which is conveyed by
the paper conveying path 53, to the image forming unit 220, in
which the image forming process is started, in synchronization with
a printing operation of the image forming unit 220.
In the constitution described above, for example, when one of the
paper feeding cassettes 50 stores one new paper type and is set in
the apparatus main body 1, the paper type of the paper P stored in
this paper feeding cassette 50 is not detected by the paper type
sensor 223 yet. In this state, when a paper feeding command is
issued to perform printing on the paper in the paper feeding
cassette 50, in which this undetected paper type is stored, the
paper feeding mechanism 221 corresponding to this paper feeding
cassette 50 feeds the paper P in the paper feeding cassette 50 to
the paper conveying path 53 piece by piece.
The paper-conveying-path control unit 210c causes the conveying
roller 56 to rotate and convey the paper P fed to the paper
discharging unit 55. In the middle of this conveyance, a paper type
of the paper P is detected by the paper type sensor 223. After
passing through the paper type sensor 223, the paper P being
conveyed temporarily stops in the portion of the registration
rollers 58 located upstream of the image forming unit 220.
In this state, the condition setting unit 210a optimally sets, in
accordance with a detection result of the paper type sensor 223,
conditions for an image forming process of the image forming unit
220 (the process unit 214 in FIG. 2) to match the paper type
detected. Since the image forming unit 220 executes an image
forming process for forming an image based on image data and
transferring the image to paper being conveyed by the transfer belt
25, the secondary transfer roller 57, and the like and printing the
image, the condition setting unit 210a optimally sets conditions
for the image forming process according to a paper type.
Since a paper type of the paper fed to the paper conveying path 53
is not detected yet as described above, the process control unit
210b starts the image forming process awaiting a detection result
by the paper type sensor 223. After this, the paper-conveying-path
control unit 210c controls the registration rollers 58 to deliver
the paper P temporarily stopped before the registration roller 58
to the image forming unit 220, in which the image forming process
is started, in synchronization with a printing operation.
Therefore, the image forming unit 220 transfers the image formed on
the basis of the image data to the paper P delivered thereto by the
registration rollers 58 and prints the image. The image transferred
is heated and fixed by the heat roller 59 for heat fixing and the
press-contact roller 60. After the fixing, the paper printed is
discharged from the paper discharge port 54 to the paper
discharging unit 55 by the paper discharging roller 61.
A case in which a paper feeding command is issued for paper stored
in the same paper feeding cassette 50 as the paper, the paper type
of which is detected as described above, will be explained. In this
case, since the paper fed this time is fed from the same paper
feeding cassette 50 as the paper, the paper type of which is
already detected by the paper type sensor 223, the process control
unit 210b determines that the paper is paper of the same type.
Therefore, it is possible to start the image forming process
without awaiting paper type detection. The process control unit
210b starts the image forming process at a point when the paper is
fed to the paper conveying path 53 without awaiting a detecting
operation by the paper type sensor 223. In this case, the
paper-conveying-path control unit 210c controls the registration
roller 58 to deliver the paper to the image forming unit 220 in
synchronization with a printing operation of the image forming unit
220. At this point, since the image forming process is already
started, the paper is immediately delivered to the image forming
unit 220 without being kept waiting a long time before the
registration rollers 58. Printing based on the image data is
promptly performed.
As described above, in the image forming apparatus according to the
first embodiment of the invention, a paper type of paper, a paper
type of which is not detected yet, is detected by the paper type
sensor 223 provided in the middle of the paper feeding and
conveying process. This paper type detection is incorporated in an
image forming algorithm and image formation start timing is
associated with this paper type detection. Consequently, unlike in
the past, it is unnecessary to perform partial paper feeding for
paper type detection prior to an original paper feeding command.
Therefore, an operation for returning paper once delivered to a
sensor section to a paper storing unit to prevent the paper from
blocking a course of paper conveyed from another paper feeding
stage is not required for a paper feeding operation for the purpose
of paper type detection. Since it is also unnecessary to arrange a
sensor near the paper feeding mechanism, one sensor only has to be
provided in common to respective paper feeding sources on a paper
conveying path. Therefore, a structure is simplified and a stable
operation is obtained.
As shown in FIG. 3, the one paper type sensor 223 is arranged in a
position further on the upstream side than the registration rollers
58 on the main paper conveying path 53 and provided in common to
the respective paper feeding sources. However, the invention is not
limited to such a constitution and the paper type sensor 223 may be
arranged as shown in FIG. 4. The paper type sensor 223 may be
arranged between the paper feeding mechanism 221 for each of the
paper feeding cassettes 50 as the paper feeding sources and the
paper conveying path 53.
With such a constitution, the paper type sensors 223 are necessary
by a number equivalent to the number of paper feeding sources.
However, since it is possible to detect a paper type of fed paper
at an initial stage of paper feeding and conveyance, it is possible
to bring forward start timing of the image forming process and
obtain high performance.
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